Internet Verse Search Commentaries Word Analysis ITL - draft

Proverbs 25:15

NETBible	Through patience¹ a ruler can be persuaded,² and a soft tongue³ can break a bone.⁴
NIV © biblegateway Pro 25:15	Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
NASB © biblegateway Pro 25:15	By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
NLT © biblegateway Pro 25:15	Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can crush strong opposition.
MSG © biblegateway Pro 25:15	Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.
BBE © SABDAweb Pro 25:15	A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes wrongs without protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is broken.
NRSV © bibleoremus Pro 25:15	With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break bones.
NKJV © biblegateway Pro 25:15	By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.
[+] More English


KJV	By long <0753> forbearing <0639> is a prince <07101> persuaded <06601> (8792)_, and a soft <07390> tongue <03956> breaketh <07665> (8799) the bone <01634>_.
NASB © biblegateway Pro 25:15	By forbearance <0753> <639> a ruler <07101> may be persuaded <06601> , And a soft <07390> tongue <03956> breaks <07665> the bone <01634> .
LXXM	(32:15) en <1722> PREP makroyumia <3115> N-DSF euodia <2136> N-NSF basileusin <935> N-DPM glwssa <1100> N-NSF de <1161> PRT malakh <3120> A-NSF suntribei <4937> V-PAI-3S osta <3747> N-APN
NET [draft] ITL	Through patience <0639> <0753> a ruler <07101> can be persuaded <06601> , and a soft <07390> tongue <03956> can break <07665> a bone <01634> .
HEBREW	Mrg <01634> rbst <07665> hkr <07390> Nwslw <03956> Nyuq <07101> htpy <06601> Mypa <0639> Krab (25:15) <0753>

NETBible

Through patience¹ a ruler can be persuaded,² and a soft tongue³ can break a bone.⁴

NET Notes

¹tn Heb “long of anger” or “forbearance” (so NASB).

²tn The two imperfect verbs in this line may be nuanced as potential imperfects because what is described could happen, but does not do so as a rule.

³tn The “tongue” is a metonymy of cause; and so the expression here refers to soft or gentle speech. This fits well with the parallel idea of patience (“long of anger”) – through a calm patient persuasion much can be accomplished. Some English versions relate this figure directly to the persuasion of a ruler in the previous line (cf. TEV “can even convince rulers”).

⁴sn The idea of breaking a bone uses the hardest and most firm part of the body in contrast to the “softness of the tongue.” Both are figurative, forming a comparison. A gentle speech can break down any stiff opposition.